Cash and other prizes planned for Project Graduation this Sunday

High schools throughout Lawrence will be sending their graduates into the real world this week.

Both Bishop Seabury Academy and Veritas Christian School graduations will be Friday.

Bishop Seabury’s commencement begins at 9 a.m. at the school, 4120 Clinton Parkway.

Graduation for Veritas will start at 6:30 p.m. and will be at Stony Point Hall, 1514 N. 600 Road, in Baldwin City.

Lawrence public schools will have their high school commencement ceremonies Sunday. Both will be at Memorial Stadium on the Kansas University campus. In case of inclement weather, each high school will hold the ceremony in its respective gymnasium.

The Lawrence High graduation begins at 1 p.m. Free State’s ceremony begins at 4 p.m.

Graduating seniors in Lawrence might not be able to drive away in a used car after Project Graduation this year, but they’ll have more chances to get cash prizes during the “Mission: Possible”-themed celebration.

“Most high school seniors do have a car already anyway, so they’re more than thrilled to take the cash,” said Karen Hill, one of the co-chairs for the event.

Hill added that the group has yet to determine how many cash prizes will be available and how much money kids could get because donations are still coming in.

Other prizes include televisions, a laptop, iPods and a digital camera.

Hill said that in the last few years Project Graduation has lured about 600 students from Lawrence High, Free State High, Bishop Seabury Academy, Veritas Christian School, Lawrence Virtual School and home schools.

Activities at the event include Guitar Hero, a mechanical bull, karaoke and dancing.

Tickets are $5 and will be sold at graduation rehearsals on May 22 and on the night of the event.

“The community really supports it,” Hill said. “There are prizes. There are games all night. There’s food. It’s just something for them to go do.”

Project Graduation will be from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday at Abe & Jake’s Landing, 8 E. Sixth St.